Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Luke Scott got a measure of revenge for manager Dave Trembley, who got himself tossed in the first inning.

Scott had seven RBIs and powered the Baltimore Orioles to a 12-4 win over the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night.

He started with a 2-run single in the first, then hit a 2-run triple in the sixth and launched a three-run home run in seventh inning. His previous high for RBIs was five.

"Luke comes in (the clubhouse) and I said, 'hey, get me a couple would you?' He said, 'skip, if they throw it across the plate I'll have a chance. Then he hit that triple," Trembley said. Then he came in again and said, 'next time they throw it over the plate I'm going to hit it out of the ballpark.' I said, 'you do that,' and he did."

However, it was Scott's first-inning single to center that set the stage for Trembley's outburst. Center-fielder Gutierrez's scooped up the ball but his throw home flew into the stands. Trembley argued that the lead runner, Nolan Reimold, should have scored because the base runner is allowed two bases from where they were at the point the ball left Gutierrez's hand.

The manager went out to argue to no avail. During the side change, Trembley asked Reimold where he was and he told him he was past second base. Trembley then went out again, hollered at ump Tom Hallion, threw his cap and got the hook.

Gutierrez hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning to give Seattle the lead. That extended his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games. He is hitting .500 (20 of 40) during the surge.

But Trembley's ejection seemed to bolster the Orioles, especially Scott.

"I talked to him after my second at-bat and he asked me, 'put one out for me,"' Scott said. All right, if I get something to hit. I put a pretty good swing on it."

Trailing 3-2 entering the sixth, Nick Markakis singled off Chris Jakubauskas (5-6). With one out, Aubrey Huff was intentionally walked. Reimold, who had two hits and three RBI, tied it with a RBI single to right.

Scott followed with a low line drive to center field that went to the wall. He scored on Melvin Mora's single that made it 6-3.

"We had a good game going and then the wheels fell off," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "Jak got through the fifth then came out in the sixth and tried to protect the lead. It really came down to getting behind on Huff. That was kind of the turning point of the game. I felt we should have challenged him a little more."

The Orioles added six runs in the seventh. Ty Wigginton had an RBI double, Reimold had a two-run single, and Scott connected on his 17th homer of the season to make it 12-3.

Mark Hendrickson (4-4) pitched 2 2-3 scoreless innings for the win.

Seattle starter Erik Bedard, who had missed the last 25 games with left shoulder inflammation, worked the first four innings. He allowed two runs, two hits, walked one and struck out eight, matching his season high. He was on a 75-pitch count.

"The first inning was a little off but then I started throwing strikes and getting outs," Bedard said. "My arm felt good. I'm ready to go."

Ken Griffey, Jr's eighth-inning double was his 514th. That tied former teammate Edgar Martinez for 39th on the career list.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Jarrod Washburn is pitching better than ever in his 12th major league season.

Washburn tossed a one-hitter for his ninth career complete game, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 5-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night.

"It's the best stuff I've ever had," he said.

Nick Markakis had the only hit off Washburn (4-5), a two-out single in the fourth. Washburn faced just one batter over the minimum, issuing no walks and striking out three in his 110-pitch effort.

Russell Branyan hit his 21st homer, Chris Woodward doubled in a pair of runs and Ichiro Suzuki had an RBI single for Seattle.

Washburn recorded the second one-hitter at Safeco Field and 10th in franchise history. It also was his first complete-game win since he beat the Oakland Athletics 2-0 on April 25, 2007, with one of his two three-hit games, his previous career low.

"I think he's pitching as good as I've ever seen him," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "He has more command of certain pitches."

Washburn, who was 5-14 with Seattle last year, said the biggest key to his success this season has been his two-seam fastball. He worked on it in spring training with pitching coach Rick Adair and bullpen coach John Wetteland.

"I've always had a two-seam fastball but it's never sunk before," he said. "The mechanical adjustments we made in spring training - Rick and Wette - they made a little adjustment with me and it's paid off. That's what I owe it all to, that mechanical adjustment."

Washburn threw mostly fastballs against the Orioles, mixing in a handful of breaking pitches and one changeup. He threw a two-seamer to Markakis that broke in on his hands, and he sliced into shallow left field.

"If it wasn't for Nick's little hit out there to left, he's got a perfect game," Baltimore designated hitter Aubrey Huff said. "He was that good."

Brad Bergesen (5-3) went six innings for the Orioles, allowing four runs, three earned, and six hits. He walked four and struck out four.

"I'll take Bred Bergesen for the way he pitches, the way he competes, the way he keeps us in the game," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "It just so happened that Washburn was much better tonight."

Branyan connected on a 3-0 pitch in the first and Suzuki singled in Rob Johnson in the fifth to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead. Woodward tacked on a bases-loaded double in the sixth and Ryan Langerhans added a sacrifice fly in the seventh.